Flyers' third line impressing this season

Vinny Lecavalier hasn't played since scoring the game-winning shootout goal on Saturday in Nashville. (AP)

DALLAS -- Vinny Lecavalier will miss his third straight game on the current six-game road trip when the Flyers play the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

The Flyers' center is suffering from back spasms.

Coach Craig Berube made the announcement Friday morning after practice had been canceled in Dallas because of a power loss at the facility, caused by Thursday’s massive ice storm moving through North Texas.

“He was going to try [to practice],” Berube said. “He would have gone out there and we would have learned how he felt. He will not play.”

Lecavalier has not skated since the Flyers' 3-2 shootout win at Nashville on Nov. 30 to begin their trip.

His back spasms started in the third period. Lecavalier played through them and scored the game-winner in the shootout.

Saturday will mark the seventh game Lecavalier has missed this season due to injury. Despite missing those games, he remains tied with Matt Read for the team lead in goals with nine and sits third on the club in scoring with 14 points.

Berube wasn’t overly concerned that losing a practice would make a dent in any momentum the Flyers might have picked up earlier this week after winning in Detroit.

What does concern him, however, is that the Flyers will face the Stars having gone two days in succession without being on the ice. Thursday was a travel day for the team from Detroit to Dallas, which is why the Flyers didn’t practice then.

The Flyers would have practiced 12 miles from downtown at Dr. Pepper Stars Center in Farmers Branch, Texas.

“They didn’t practice yesterday and I would have liked to get on the ice and get some work in, get some skating going, get the goalies some shots,” he said. “It is what it is. We’ll deal with it.”

Free examsAs part of the on-going partnership between Temple Health and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, physicians from Temple Health will conduct PIAA compliant examinations for dozens of athletes Saturday (9:30 a.m.) at Simons Ice Rink in Philadelphia.

The partnership is providing these valuable health screenings, as well as continued follow-up care, at no cost to many families who may or may not have primary care to cover such exams otherwise. Temple physicians will be there to answer questions and provide healthcare tips.